Three lithium vanadate materials with the nominal composition Li1.1V3O8 have been prepared by a spray-drying technique with subsequent heat-treatment (A) at 320 degrees C, (B) at 585 degrees C, and (C) at 585 degrees C with carbon. They have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electronic conductivity, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface-area characterization, and electrochemical charge-discharge tests in lithium cells. The best material had a spherical aggregate morphology and exhibited, at 25 degrees C in a narrow potential range of 2.0-3.3 V vs Li/Li+, at 116 mA/g (C/3) a high discharge capacity of 260 mAh/g in the 2nd cycle and 220 mAh/g in the 60th cycle, respectively, which is to the best of our knowledge the best electrochemical performance reported so far for Li1.1V3O8. The rate capability of these positive-electrode materials was found to be limited mainly by the lithium diffusion length in the primary particles. (c) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.